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Best Overall
Best for Privacy
Our testing proved NordVPN to be the best overall VPN for torrenting and streaming, coming equipped with P2P-optimized servers, while ExpressVPN took a strong lead in security. CyberGhost was also a strong candidate if you need torrenting functionality and security features at an affordable price.
Keep reading to learn more about these top VPN apps for torrenting.
Compare the best torrenting VPNs
Methodology
NordVPN: Best overall
ExpressVPN: Best for privacy and security
CyberGhost: Best for affordable protection
Bottom line
FAQs
The best VPNs for torrenting
Compare the best torrenting VPNs
| VPN |
Best Overall
|
|
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| Best for | Overall | Privacy and security | Affordable protection |
| Starting price | $3.49/mo | $2.49/mo | $1.59/mo |
| Torrenting servers | |||
| Kill switch | |||
| No-logs policy | |||
| Additional security features | Split tunneling, malware scans, blocks malicious sites, ad blocker | Split tunneling, blocks tracker, scammer, and malware sites, continuously updated blocklist | CyberGhost Security Suite for Windows, protection against malware, adware and other threats |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review |
Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review |
Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review |
How we test and rate VPNs
Every VPN in this guide is hands-on tested by our team using a consistent process. We evaluate each product across seven areas:
- Features (30.5%): We review every VPN for inclusion of a working kill switch, split tunneling, multiple VPN protocols, multi-hop servers, and the option to add a dedicated IP. We also review the size of the server network and number of server countries available.
- Test results (20%): We run download and upload speed tests with no VPN as a baseline, then connect to servers in four regions (U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia) to calculate the VPN's impact on our speeds. We also connect to each region's Netflix library to verify streaming access, and run WebRTC and DNS leak tests using BrowserLeaks to confirm our real IP and DNS data remain masked.
- Editor's score (15%): We use each VPN ourselves, evaluating interface clarity, feature accessibility, and anything else that affects day-to-day use that isn't captured by our other criteria.
- Value (11%): We evaluate each product's value based on starting price, money-back guarantee length, and the number of simultaneous connections allowed under a single subscription.
- Privacy and security (9.5%): We verify each VPN's no-logs policy, check whether it has been independently audited, review its encryption standards, and note its headquarters jurisdiction.
- Customer service (5%): We evaluate how thorough the customer support is based on how many ways there are to contact human support.
- Compatibility (3%): We review each VPN's availability across desktop, mobile, browsers, routers, and smart devices.
We test VPNs at least twice a year. Testing has been carried out across Windows, macOS, and mobile, so our results reflect real-world performance across devices.
To learn more about how we test, read our full VPN methodology here.
NordVPN: Best overall
What we liked
Are you planning on doing a lot of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and streaming at home? If so, NordVPN is the best option for your computer and other devices. It offers fast connection speeds and strong security standards, making your day-to-day data-sharing and viewing experiences enjoyable.
NordVPN previously had a tab dedicated to P2P servers, but now all standard Nord servers support P2P activities. When you consider NordVPN's extensive network of 9,300+ servers, that gives you plenty of options to choose from for torrenting.
Based on our historical testing data, NordVPN is the fastest VPN out of the 50-plus VPNs we've tested. Its historical average impact on our download speeds is only 1% slower, which includes connecting to servers in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia.
These faster speeds are helped by NordVPN’s NordLynx, a protocol integrated with WireGuard that uses less processing capacity and power during the connection process. NordLynx ensures that speed isn't compromised during your VPN connection.
Additionally, NordVPN combines its VPN with a Smart DNS service, automatically switching DNS servers when attempting to access unavailable content. This enhanced feature does this while also simultaneously masking your IP address.
This is helpful if you live in an area that restricts certain geo-restricted content, so with NordVPN SmartPlay, you can stream your favorite shows from your desktop, browser, smartphones, and even smart TVs.
What we didn’t like
While the extra security is valuable, Threat Protection Pro isn't available on NordVPN's entry-level plan. We don’t like that Threat Protection won’t work unless you’re connected to your VPN and it doesn’t delete any previously downloaded malware.
Before torrenting files, you’ll need to use the Threat Protection Pro on a Windows or macOS device to guarantee that you’re protected from current and previous malware threats.
NordVPN specs
| Starting price | Starts at $3.49/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of servers | 9,300+ servers in 130+ countries |
| Number of connected devices | 10 |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM |
| Torrenting servers | Yes |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| No-logs policy | Yes |
| Additional security features | Split tunneling, malware scanning, and blocking of malicious sites, ads, and trackers |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review |
Test results
To assess NordVPN’s performance, we conducted tests to review impact on speed, ability to unblock Netflix geo-restrictions, and protection against potential data leaks.
NordVPN passed all three tests with flying colors. It has minimal impact on our speeds, unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested, and prevented all data leaks.
|
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| Audited no-logs policy | Yes, audited by Deloitte from November-December 2025 |
| Speed | Decreased our download speeds by an average of 16% |
| Netflix | Unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia |
| DNS leak | Passed, no DNS leaks |
| WebRTC leak | Passed, no WebRTC leaks |
| Kill switch | Passed, no trace of our physical location when switching servers |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN |
Star rating summary
NordVPN has a perfect star rating of 5.0 and is our top VPN recommendation. You can expect a user-friendly experience, standard VPN features along with helpful extras, an audited no-logs policy, and intuitive apps across devices.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 11% | 5.0 |
| Features | 30.5% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 20% | 5.0 |
| Privacy and security | 9.5% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 5% | 5.0 |
ExpressVPN: Best for privacy and security
What we liked
ExpressVPN is best if you want a product’s privacy and security features verified before you purchase and download a VPN. While a website can make many claims, you'll want to know that your VPN has been audited by a third-party firm with a solid reputation.
As of June 2026, ExpressVPN has completed 27 audits on its various technologies. Its no-logs policy was most recently audited by KPMG in June 2025, so it's been repeatedly verified that ExpressVPN never tracks or stores your browsing activities and data.
Though not all torrenting uses are illegal, many still need the extra security of a VPN like ExpressVPN. For example, torrents are used to fight disinformation in countries like Russia.
We reviewed and liked several of ExpressVPN’s security features, including:
- Threat Manager: This feature prevents your device from interacting with malicious third parties, such as trackers and malware sites, whether the app is open or running in the background.
- Network Lock: The kill switch component protects your data if you get disconnected from the VPN by blocking all your internet traffic.
- RAM-only servers: The company’s RAM-only servers wipe the data clean every time they’re rebooted.
What we didn’t like
ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN services, as the lowest price is $2.49/mo. Other VPNs like Surfshark and Private Internet Access are on the lower end of the budget, costing $1.99/mo and $1.33/mo, respectively.
And while the company’s servers can handle torrenting without issues, ExpressVPN doesn't have servers dedicated to P2P file sharing.
ExpressVPN specs
| Starting price | Starts at $2.49/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of servers | Unlisted in 105 countries |
| Number of connected devices | 14 |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Torrenting servers | No |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| No-logs policy | Yes |
| Additional security features | Split tunneling, blocking of tracker, scammer, and malware sites, and a continuously updated blocklist |
| Learn more | Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review |
Test results
We put ExpressVPN through three types of tests: speed tests to measure impact with different servers, Netflix tests to unblock geo-restrictions, and leak tests to determine privacy protection.
ExpressVPN had almost no impact on our download speeds and successfully unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested. However, ExpressVPN only partially passed the WebRTC leak test, as the BrowserLeaks site detected that something was off.
| Test type |
|
| Audited no-logs policy | Yes, audited by KPMG in June 2025 |
| Speed | Maintained our download speed with most servers |
| Netflix | Unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia |
| DNS leak | Passed, no DNS leaks |
| WebRTC leak | Partially passed, WebRTC IP didn't match remote IP |
| Kill switch | Passed, no trace of our physical location when switching servers |
| Learn more | Get ExpressVPN |
Star rating summary
ExpressVPN has a high star rating of 4.8 due to its intuitive dashboard, wide price range that suits multiple budgets, audited no-logs policy, and extensive compatibility.
ExpressVPN received a lower score in the test results category because it failed to unblock Netflix U.K. It also was marked down in the features category because it doesn't offer multi-hop servers.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 11% | 5.0 |
| Features | 30.5% | 4.8 |
| Test results | 20% | 4.5 |
| Privacy and security | 9.5% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 5% | 5.0 |
CyberGhost: Best for affordable protection
What we liked
CyberGhost offers many of the same features as NordVPN and ExpressVPN but at a more affordable price point of $1.59/mo. With respectable speeds and a network of servers in 100 countries, CyberGhost makes torrenting with a VPN easy.
With a 45-day money-back guarantee, CyberGhost is confident in the security and privacy of its services. It also has designated P2P servers ideal for connecting to torrent clients like uTorrent and BitTorrent and torrent websites.
When we tested CyberGhost, we found no leaks, meaning our IP was successfully masked. The interface was also easy to use, allowing us to choose specialty servers for torrenting, gaming, or streaming.
The connection to the VPN was also apparent within the application, so you can feel safe knowing that you are fully connected to your VPN.
What we didn’t like
Although the interface is largely easy to use, CyberGhost spreads out its features across tabs in a confusing way. For instance, if you want to enable the kill switch, you have to navigate to Privacy settings after clicking on the VPN tab. On the other hand, the VPN protocol options are located in the General Settings under the CyberGhost VPN tab.
Additionally, split tunneling is only available for Android devices at this time.
CyberGhost specs
| Starting price | Starts at $1.59/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 45 days |
| Number of servers | Unlisted in 100 countries |
| Number of connected devices | 7 |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Torrenting servers | Yes |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| No-logs policy | Yes |
| Additional security features | CyberGhost Security Suite for Windows, protection against malware, adware and other threats |
| Learn more | Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review |
Test results
We ran several tests on CyberGhost for insight into its real-world performance. We tested how CyberGhost would impact our internet speeds, unblock Netflix's geo-restrictions, and prevent data leaks.
CyberGhost passed all of our Netflix tests and prevented all data leaks. It had a high impact on our speeds, but our internet was still perfectly usable.
| Test type |
|
| Audited no-logs policy | Yes, audited by Deloitte in May 2024 |
| Speed | Decreased our download speeds by an average of 18% |
| Netflix | Unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia |
| DNS leak | Passed, no DNS leaks |
| WebRTC leak | Passed, no WebRTC leaks |
| Kill switch | Passed, no trace of our physical location when switching servers |
| Learn more | Get CyberGhost |
Star rating summary
CyberGhost has a high star rating of 4.7 due to its feature-rich platform, audited no-logs policy, privacy-friendly headquarters, and compatibility across desktop, mobile, routers, and more.
CyberGhost received a lower test results score due to its slow speed performance. We also docked points in the experience category because we've had issues connecting to servers and unblocking geo-restrictions.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 4.5 |
| Value | 11% | 4.67 |
| Features | 30.5% | 4.75 |
| Test results | 20% | 4.5 |
| Privacy and security | 9.5% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 5% | 5.0 |
Bottom line
NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost all have excellent speeds for torrenting and streaming, making them the optimal selections during our comparison testing. These VPN services are transparent, having undergone multiple third-party audits.
They’re also headquartered in countries that value your right to privacy. With multiple safety features and military-grade encryption, you can feel safe using these VPNs for P2P file sharing.
FAQs
Why would someone use a BitTorrent VPN?
If you'd like to download torrents anonymously, a VPN can encrypt your data and route your connection through a server to shield your identity and location.
Not only can you protect your identity and activities while online, but you may also be able to access geo-blocked content within your region. Just as important, a VPN may protect you against downloading malware during your file-sharing process.
What are the main things I should look for when selecting the best VPN for torrenting?
You’ll first want to review where the VPN is headquartered, as countries in the 5, 9, or 14 Eyes alliances can share your information with their governments if requested to do so.
In terms of the VPN itself, always look for standard AES-256 encryption or better, a kill switch to prevent data leaking if your VPN gets turned off, and a no-logging policy. Server connectivity speeds and streaming are also important while torrenting, so look for faster VPNs or VPN providers that offer VPN servers specifically for torrenting.
Is torrenting legal?
Torrenting is fully legal. Because torrenting involves peer-to-peer file sharing, it can be associated with piracy or the unauthorized use of copyrighted material. These files may include games, movies, music, and software.
You may be wondering what happens if you accidentally and illegally download a copyrighted file. The answer is that your internet service provider (ISP) could take actions against you, like throttling your bandwidth, for example. Plus, copyright trolls — entities whose sole purpose is to go after torrenting — could take legal actions against you for copyright infringement and more.
What's the best free VPN for torrenting?
A free VPN should raise concerns about selling your data, but some are more reputable than others. We like Proton VPN's free VPN, which offers servers in three countries: Japan, the Netherlands, and the U.S. If you like Proton, you can upgrade your free VPN to its Plus plan, which offers servers optimized for file sharing.


